Nba Preview: Western Conference Capsules

October 31, 1997

MIDWEST DIVISION

1. HOUSTON ROCKETS

Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich

Last season: 57-25 (second)

Added: None

Lost: G Sedale Threatt

The Rockets' aging trio of superstars -- Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkley -- did not reach their goal last season, blowing a fourth quarter lead at home in Game 6 of the conference finals and were eliminated by the Jazz. Brent Price, who was supposed to be their point guard, missed 53 games, first because of a broken arm, then a knee injury. His backup, rookie Matt Maloney, an Ivy Leaguer, did well, but was overmatched against John Stockton. Rudy T hopes the return of Price and Emanuel Davis, who missed 69 games with a knee injury, solidifies the backcourt. And, that they, along with reserve Eddie Johnson, will swish enough three-pointers to spread the court and free the big three. Kevin Willis and Mario Elie will play key supporting roles, but ultimately, it's up to Oljauwon, Drexler, and Barkley, all of whom will be 35 when the playoffs begin. What are the odds that each will be healthy in mid-April? That, plus the presumed playoff berth, are the Rockets real regular-season goals.

2. SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Coach: Gregg Popovich

Last season: 20-62 (sixth)

Added: C Tim Duncan

Lost: F Dominique Wilkins

How can a team lose Wilkins, its leading scorer and second-leading rebounder and expect to be about three times better? If you're the Spurs, who lost a franchise record 347 player-games to injury -- including 76 without David Robinson -- it's easy. Not only is Robinson healthy, their horrid showing put the Spurs in the lottery, where they lucked out by landing the No. 1 pick, 6-foot-11, 250-pound Duncan. Suddenly, the Spurs go from having no center -- a plight many NBA teams face annually -- to having two. The consensus of NBA scouts is that Duncan is headed for greatness, and Popovich says he is more certain of it after watching Duncan in training camp. ``There's not going to be anybody in this league who can do what he can do as a rookie,'' Popovich said. ``That's going to be obvious to everyone pretty quickly. He's better than I even thought he was. He's not a good passer. He's a great passer, the best passer [for a center] I've seen since Bill Walton.'' The Spurs, who won 59 games two years ago, can do without Wilkins, who returned to play in Europe, because with scorers such as Sean Elliott and Chuck Person seemingly ready to resume their roles, there wouldn't be enough basketballs. If Robinson's back doesn't balk, he and Duncan should be the league's most fearsome rebounding/shot-blocking tandem. So what's not to love about the Spurs? The backcourt, where Avery Johnson and Vinny Del Negro are able, but not the first-rate players a team needs to win a championship.

3. UTAH JAZZ

Coach: Jerry Sloan

Last season: 64-18 (first)

Added: None

Lost: None

But temporarily, there's a huge loss. John Stockton, who played all 82 games in 12 of his first 13 seasons, had knee surgery during training camp and isn't expected back until Christmas. That makes backup Howard Eisley the starting point guard. Eisley played well in the NBA Finals and is a competent replacement, but he's no All-Star. ``That's a tremendous loss to us,'' Sloan said, ``because [Stockton] is such a major part of what we've always done. He's the guy who coaches our team [on the floor].'' But Stockton turns 35 in March, and having to take a few months off should make him fresher when the playoffs start. The Jazz are coming off their best regular season and first trip to the Finals, but didn't improve themselves in the off-season. But if young role players such as Eisley, forward Bryon Russell, guard Shandon Anderson and centers Greg Ostertag and Greg Foster continue to improve, and if Karl Malone, 34, stays as is, the Jazz could make it to the conference finals again. Unlike many teams, the Jazz know their system and their roles, and they've got no malcontents. That counts for a lot. They've also got the loudest home crowd in the NBA. But unless their young players can exceed expectations, the first Stockton/Malone Finals appearance may also be the last.